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Review
. 1999 Jan;20(1):55-67.
doi: 10.1023/a:1009928008193.

Making decisions about life-sustaining medical treatment in patients with dementia. The problem of patient decision-making capacity

A R Derse  1
Affiliations
Review

Making decisions about life-sustaining medical treatment in patients with dementia. The problem of patient decision-making capacity

A R Derse. Theor Med Bioeth. 1999 Jan.

Abstract

The problem of decision-making capacity in patients with dementia, such as those with early stage Alzheimer's, can be vexing, especially when these patients refuse life-sustaining medical treatments. However, these patients should not be presumed to lack decision-making capacity. Instead, an analysis of the patient's decision-making capacity should be made. Patients who have some degree of decision-making capacity may be able to make a choice about life-sustaining medical treatment and may, in many cases, choose to forgo treatment.

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